The sooner cancer of the vulva is diagnosed, the faster it can be treated and the better the patient's prognosis (see vulva cancer survival rates). The early stage of the disease is called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), also known as carcinoma in situ (and formerly Bowen's disease). VIN is generally considered the pre-cancer stage to vulva cancer, much like VAIN is to vaginal cancer and CIN is to cervical cancer. VIN can cause a burning and itching sensation in the vulva tissue which may be mistaken for less serious problems like vaginitis or yeast infections.

In fact many women with the condition initially self-medicate with yeast infections treatments and only seek medical advice when symptoms do not clear. VIN is usually easily detected during a pelvic examination by the presence of white patches of raised skin. A biopsy will need to be carried out to confirm a clinical diagnosis. Fortunately, even if some women miss the early signs of vulvar cancer the prognosis is usually good. Vulvar cancers develop very slowly and do not spread to other parts of the body until the disease is quite advanced (see vulva cancer staging). About 20 percent of patients do not experience symptoms before being receiving a vulva cancer diagnosis.

What Symptoms Can I Expect?

As there are a few different types of vulva cancer, the symptoms can vary slightly. The following is a list of the most common signs according to type of cancer present:

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The vast majority of vulvar cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. If they are found in the early stages they are highly curable. Signs include the discovery of one or all of the following:

Lumps Reddish, pink or white lumps of excess tissue growth found in the vulva tissue, called nodules. Warts
Lumps which can look like warts and have a raw surface if they have burst (ulcerated).White Patches
Rough patches of raised vulva skin which look white in appearance.Itching
About half of patients complain of pain or itching (although this may be attributed to a less serious condition called vulvodynia).

Other possible signs include:

Painful Urination
Also known as dysuria, painful urination is another sign; although more common causes for it are interstitial cystitis, STDs, urinary tract infections and vaginitis.Pelvic Pain
Also known as dyspareunia, pain can occur in the pelvis during or after sexual intercourse.Spotting
There may be light spots of blood if lumps become ulcerated.

Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma accounts for about 8 percent of all vulvar cancers. Sometimes adenocarcinoma develops in the Bartholin glands which are located near the entrance of the vulva. This can result in a thickened mass on either side of the opening of the vagina. This may be mistaken for a vaginal cyst. Adenocarcinoma which develops in the sweat glands of the vulva skin is called Paget disease. This can cause red scaly skin which burns and itches.

Vulva Melanoma

The appearance of a new darkened area of skin or lump is a classic sign of this disease – or a change in an already pre-existing mole. One significant study of women with vulva melanoma reported that 15 percent of patients had a family history of melanoma (skin cancer) and that the primary location of melanoma was the clitoris followed by the labia. Researchers reported the following frequency of symptoms in patients:

This is an extremely rare form of vulva cancer. A typical sign is a patch of painless red lumps or ulcerations.

Comparison of Gynecologic Cancer Symptoms

All women should pay attention to their body so they will be able to spot changes if they occur. For example, carrying out a vulva self examination (VSE) on a regular basis will help you become familiar with your reproductive area. To find out how to do a VSE, see our article: Vulva Cancer Prevention.

The following is a useful guide to the different symptoms for each gynecologic cancer.